Evaluation of Lumicyano cyanoacrylate fuming process for the development of latent fingermarks on plastic carrier bags by means of a pseudo operational comparative trial

There are a number of studies discussing recent developments of a one-step fluorescent cyanoacrylate process. This study is a pseudo operational trial to compare an example of a one-step fluorescent cyanoacrylate product, Lumicyano™, with the two recommended techniques for plastic carrier bags; cyanoacrylate fuming followed by basic yellow 40 (BY40) dyeing and powder suspensions. 100 plastic carrier bags were collected from the place of work and the items were treated as found without any additional fingermark deposition. The bags were split into three and after treatment with the three techniques a comparable number of fingermarks were detected by each technique (average of 300 fingermarks). The items treated with Lumicyano™ were sequentially processed with BY40 and an additional 43 new fingermarks were detected. Lumicyano™ appears to be a suitable technique for the development of fingermarks on plastic carrier bags and it can help save lab space and time as it does not require dyeing or drying procedures. Furthermore, contrary to other one-step cyanoacrylate products, existing cyanoacrylate cabinets do not require any modification for the treatment of articles with Lumicyano™. To date, there is little peer reviewed articles in the literature on trials related to Lumicyano™ and this study aims to contribute to fill this gap

Earth dance and fire song: A journey towards transformative reconciliation in nursing education

G̱ilakas\u27la, Nugwa’a̱m Joanna Elizabeth Fraser. I was born in East Africa to parents of European ancestry. I have been an inhabitant of the West Coast of Canada since I was two years old. This inquiry offers a vision for co-creating healing learning spaces for transformative reconciliation in nursing education. Oriented by Indigenous research methodologies, I draw from métissage and, portraiture to share the story of finding ya\u27xa̱n yiyaḵ̓wima (my gifts from the Creator). Starting with finding ya\u27xa̱n dłig̱a̱m (my name), I ask who I am in relation to the places and people who I have learned from. In finding ya\u27xa̱n ḵ̓a̱ngex̱tola (my blanket), I ask where I am from as I weave, unweave and reweave understandings of what I have learned as a nurse and as an educator. In finding ya\u27xa̱n ya̱xw\u27a̱nye\u27 (my dance), I ask where I am going and share my experiences from over 13 years of co-facilitating immersion learning field schools in remote First Nations communities. Finally, I share the learnings of my inquiry for educators more generally as I find ya\u27xa̱n ḵ̓a̱mda̱m (my song) and ask myself why I am here. My learnings from the field schools are about following the lead of Indigenous people, orienting myself to relationships and always seeking out wellness. These learnings are applied to nursing education more generally as my inquiry leads me through three landscapes: bearing witness, being an inhabitant and becoming Indigenist. Transformative reconciliation happens when we naḵi\u27stamas (make things right) and tlaxwalapa (lift each other up with love). We can do this through living in relationally accountable and ecologically reciprocal ways. My lessons are of the Sisiutl, seeing everything in complexity, and of the he’istalis (world around us) experiencing everything as relationship. Ultimately, my vision is to reimagine nursing and nursing education so that we can heal ourselves, each other, and the land to become synala (whole)

Relational Accountability: A Path Towards Transformative Reconciliation in Nursing Education

This paper provides a vision for working towards relationally accountable transformative reconciliation in nursing education. The author shares the teaching gifts she has received from Indigenous Knowledge Holders and through her experience of co-facilitating Indigenous led, land based, wellness-oriented field schools. It offers a way forward for nurse educators who are searching for ways to responsibly and meaningfully address colonial harms and actively engage in ethical, accountable and respectful relations with Indigenous People and Knowledges. The vision starts with transforming ourselves through bearing witness and experiencing the vulnerability of cultural humility. It requires us to transform our relationships through reframing our existing theories and practices and enacting pedagogies that are uplifting with love. Finally, we can transform our practice by engaging in relationally accountable and ecologically reciprocal relationships with Indigenous People and communities. This vision is for nurse educators to enact a sacred practice with the potential to transform our systems and our institutions for the wellbeing of all people and communities. Résumé Cet article offre une vision du chemin vers une réconciliation transformatrice responsable sur le plan relationnel au sein de la formation en sciences infirmières. L’auteure partage des connaissances qu’elle a acquises des gardiens du savoir autochtones et de son expérience comme co-animatrice dans des écoles sur le terrain axées sur le bien-être et dirigées par des Autochtones. Cet article offre une voie à suivre aux infirmières enseignantes qui cherchent des moyens de s’attaquer de manière responsable et significative aux méfaits coloniaux et de s’engager activement dans des relations éthiques, responsables et respectueuses auprès des peuples autochtones et de leur savoir. La vision commence par une transformation de nous-mêmes en tant que témoins de l’humilité culturelle et participants à l’expérience de sa vulnérabilité. Pour cela, nous devons modifier nos relations en redéfinissant nos théories et pratiques existantes et en adoptant des pédagogies qui s’inspirent de l’amour. Enfin, nous pouvons transformer notre pratique en nous engageant dans des relations de responsabilité relationnelle et écologiquement réciproque avec les peuples et les communautés autochtones. Cette vision consiste, pour les infirmières enseignantes, à adopter une pratique sacrée qui a le potentiel de transformer nos systèmes et nos institutions pour le bien-être de toutes les personnes et communautés

Pseudo-operational trials of Lumicyano solution and Lumicyano powder for the detection of latent fingermarks on various substrates

This study presents pseudo-operational trials comparing a one-step fluorescent cyanoacrylate process with a number of other enhancement techniques on a variety of substrates. This one-step process involves a product, 4% Lumicyano, which is a solution consisting of 4% by weight of a powdered dye (Lumicyano powder) dissolved in a cyanoacrylate-based solution (Lumicyano solution). The cyanoacrylate in the Lumicyano solution may be of a higher quality than that used in the two-step products.One hundred items were collected from the place of work for each trial. Trial 1 involved a comparison of 4% Lumicyano with the conventional two-step cyanoacrylate fuming-dye staining for the detection of latent fingermarks on plastic carrier bags. Trial 2 assessed the quality of the Lumicyano solution (with no powdered dye) but used in a two-step process with basic yellow 40 (BY40). Trial 1, using 4% Lumicyano powder and traditional cyanoacrylate → BY40 detected a similar amount of fingermarks (~295); however, sequential BY40 treatment (i.e., after 4% Lumicyano) detected an additional 30% marks. Trial 2 resulted in the detection of 565 marks after Lumicyano solution → BY40 in comparison to 489 marks after traditional cyanoacrylate fuming and BY40 staining. Trials 3 through 5 compared 4% Lumicyano, 1,2-indanedione-zinc, and ninhydrin on junk mail, magazines, and cardboard used for food or cosmetic packaging; the detection rate was low for all techniques and substrates. Trial 6 on cardboard packaging using 4% Lumicyano, black iron-oxide powder suspension, and magnetic powder also provided a low detection rate. Trial 7, using 4% Lumicyano → BY40, solvent black 3, and iron-oxide powder suspensions on cardboard packaging from a fast food chain, indicated that 4% Lumicyano → BY40 might be a suitable alternative to solvent black 3 and iron-oxide powder suspensions for suspected greasy marks

A comparison of the use of vacuum metal deposition versus cyanoacrylate fuming for visualisation of fingermarks and grab impressions on fabrics

Both vacuum metal deposition (VMD) and cyanoacrylate fuming (CAF) are techniques used to visualise latent fingermarks on smooth non-porous surfaces such as plastic and glass. VMD was initially investigated in the 1970s as to its effectiveness for visualising prints on fabrics, but was abandoned when radioactive sulphur dioxide was found to be more effective. However, interest in VMD was resurrected in the 1990s when CAF was also used routinely. We now report on studies to determine whether VMD or CAF is the more effective technique for the detection of marks on fabrics. Four different fabrics, nylon, polyester, polycotton and cotton, were utilised during this study, along with 15 donors who ranged in their age and ability to leave fingermarks, from good to medium to poor, thus reflecting the general population. Once samples were collected they were kept for a determined time (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 21 or 28 days) and then treated using either the gold and zinc metal VMD process or standard cyanoacrylate fuming.The smoother fabrics, such as nylon, consistently produced greater ridge detail whereas duller fabrics, like cotton tended only to show empty prints and impressions of where the fabric had been touched, rather than any ridge details. The majority of fabrics did however allow the development of touch marks that could be targeted for DNA taping which potentially could lead to a DNA profile. Of the two techniques VMD was around 5 times more effective than CAF, producing a greater amount of ridge detail, palmar flexion creases and target areas on more samples and fabrics

Building Interfaces Between State and Community

An important dimension of the research process in the case of Rio de Janeiro's favelas was linking the research to policy dialogues on public security. This briefing note explores some of the issues that emerged through these dialogues. These include the paucity of legitimate community representatives, the way that the government uses information, and the importance of time and timing in building policy dialogues. In order for there to be a productive dialogue with policymakers at the municipal, state, or other level, interlocutors between the favelas and government institutions are also key

A comparison of penetration and damage caused by different types of arrowheads on loose and tight fit clothing

Bows and arrows are used more for recreation, sport and hunting in the Western world and tend not to be as popular a weapon as firearms or knives. Yet there are still injuries and fatalities caused by these low-velocity weapons due to their availability to the public and that a licence is not required to own them. This study aimed to highlight the penetration capabilities of aluminium arrows into soft tissue and bones in the presence of clothing. Further from that, how the type and fit of clothing as well as arrowhead type contribute to penetration capacity. In this study ballistic gelatine blocks (non-clothed and loose fit or tight fit clothed) were shot using a 24 lb weight draw recurve bow and aluminium arrows accompanied by four different arrowheads (bullet, judo, blunt and broadhead).The penetration capability of aluminium arrows was examined, and the depth of penetration was found to be dependent on the type of arrowhead used as well as by the type and fit or lack thereof of the clothing covering the block. Loose fit clothing reduced penetration with half of the samples, reducing penetration capacity by percentages between 0% and 98.33%, at a range of 10 m. While the remaining half of the samples covered with tight clothing led to reductions in penetration of between 14.06% and 94.12%.The damage to the clothing and the gelatine (puncturing, cutting and tearing) was affected by the shape of the arrowhead, with the least damaged caused by the blunt arrowheads and the most by the broadhead arrows. Clothing fibres were also at times found within the projectile tract within the gelatine showing potential for subsequent infection of an individual with an arrow wound.Ribs, femur bones and spinal columns encased in some of the gelatine blocks all showed varying levels of damage, with the most and obvious damage being exhibited by the ribs and spinal column.The information gleaned from the damage to clothing, gelatine blocks and bones could potentially be useful for forensic investigators, for example, when a body has been discovered with no weapons or gunshot residue present

Visualisation of fingermarks and grab impressions on fabrics. Part 1: gold/zinc vacuum metal deposition

Vacuum metal deposition (VMD) is a highly sensitive technique originally introduced for detecting latent fingermarks on smooth non-porous surfaces such as carrier bags, plastics and glass. The current study explores whether VMD can be used in the examination of clothing from physical and sexual assault cases in order to visualise identifiable fingermark ridge detail and/or palmar flexion crease detail, thus allowing potential areas to be indicated for DNA swabbing and/or to determine the sequence of events. Four different fabrics were utilised during this study – nylon, polyester, polycotton and cotton, along with 15 donors who ranged in their age and propensity to leave fingermarks, from good to medium to poor as determined by results obtained from test runs using paper and plastic carrier bags processed with VMD. Once samples were collected they were kept for a determined time (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 21 or 28 days) and then treated using the gold/zinc metal VMD process. From the results, it appears that greater ridge detail is visible on the smoother non-porous fabrics, such as nylon whereas on rougher porous fabrics, such as cotton, only empty prints and impressions, rather than any ridge details, were visible. All fabrics did however allow the development of touch marks that could be targeted for DNA taping thus potentially leading to a DNA profile and possible identification of a suspect

Visualisation of fingermarks and grab impressions on dark fabrics using silver vacuum metal deposition

Vacuum metal deposition (VMD) involves the thermal evaporation of metal (silver) in a vacuum, resulting in a uniform layer being deposited on the specimen being treated. This paper examines the use of silver on dark fabrics, thus offering a simpler operation and more obvious colouration to that of the traditional use of gold and zinc metals which must be evaporated separately. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fabric type, donor, mark age and method of fingermark deposition on the quality of marks visualised using silver VMD. This was achieved by collecting fingermark deposits from fifteen donors, of both sexes and various ages, by a grab or a press method. Four different fabrics: satin, polyester, polycotton and cotton were studied over a 10 day timeline of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 21 and 28 + days. It was found that satin and polyester gave the most positive results, with polyester often producing excellent ridge detail. Cotton and polycotton were less successful with no ridge detail being observed. The donors also had an observable effect on the results obtained probably due to variations in secretions produced or pressures applied during specimen collection. The age of the mark or the method of mark deposition had little influence on the results obtained. Silver VMD is a viable process for visualising marks on certain dark fabrics and has the advantage over gold/zinc VMD in that the marks visualised are light in colour which contrasts well against the dark background